I am not sure how to tell the difference between toning and poor maintenance especially on Morgans. Here are a couple of my examples. Are they poor care or toning. Thanks.
A mild exposure to sulfur can cause purple toning among other colors, over exposure can turn them black. I think copper and silver are especially reactive to sulfer
They look just like when I got them. I don't remember when, but it was a long time ago. Got them raw. Always kept them in 2X2's or flips. I like the look but wondered if it was natural or previous storage. It doesn't matter except can I call it natural toning?
If you didn't treat them with anything then it's natural. Just a dark toning to me. I just found a few nickel rolls that I tucked away a few years ago. Not sure why but only the coin on onebof the ends toned, basically corroded. The other end is pristine, like the day it was first minted. Very odd and never have I had this happen to me before.
While I understand your question and the reason you ask, the answer simply requires a little understanding. While what you refer to as poor maintenance is in reality nothing more than improper storage, it doesn't directly cause the toning, but it is always a contributing factor. The cause of toning is the air and what's in it at the location where the coins are stored. And even if store your coins correctly they are still going to tone, but much more slowly than they would with improper storage. To put in simplest terms improper storage speeds up toning and can and will often exacerbate it - make it worse. So the simple and accurate answer to your question - Are they poor care or toning. - is it's both.
I think my last question would be - does the toning on these reduce their acceptance in the collecting community? Not monetarily, but do they have an appearance that is generally acceptable?
